Friday, April 08, 2005

Blog Flog

Somebody shoot me.Advertising copy for “hugms.”“once hugms is connected to your mobile phone all you have to do is send it the phone number of the person you'd like to hug and then squeeze. sensors inside the device read how long and how hard you have squeezed and will format a text message based on your hug.for example, a long squeeze would look like 'hhhhhhuuuuuuuuuuggggggg'while a short and hard squeeze would look like 'hhHHUUUUUUugg'”

aaaARGGGH

Because they canFrom LiveScience.com: “…[S]cientists have genetically modified fruit flies to jump or beat their wings when flashed with lasers.‘This is a new approach to neuroscience,’ said Gero Miesenbock from the Yale University School of Medicine. ‘We can not only passively observe but actively control behavior.’”

O Brave New World!From the Washington Post:“Companies such as Genelex are pushing medical science into territory that was once the realm of gods and horoscope writers. They are making predictions about what someone's health might be in five, 10, 20 or more years. Other testing facilities around the country offer genetic assessments of what they claim is people's future propensity towards diabetes, liver disease, blood clots, dementia -- even alcoholism and gambling.”

And whether you will be prone to humming tunelessly in public places, or if you will like peanut butter and banana sandwiches, or if you leave the seat up, or will develop an ear-piercing shriek for a laugh, or jiggle your leg nervously in social situations, or vote Republican.

Bless the Associated Press.Thomas P. Budnick was on trial for trying to poison his pal by lacing beer with nitric acid. He was cleared on the serious charge of attempted poisoning, because the acid spilled on his friend’s pants before he could drink it, but he was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Budnick is trying to get the conviction overturned because he claimed his lawyer was incompetent.

He was representing himself.

Previously Budnick had filed mining claims on Mars, and threatened to sue NASA for trespassing. He also has tried to get mineral rights on several asteroid belts and the moons of Jupiter.

Faux quote of the day.“Oh boohoo, Michael Jackson tickled me.''

Well, King, this case is closed.The infamous “Schiavo memo,” the anonymous memo that circulated among Republicans on the Senate floor, suggesting “talking points,” and enthusing that the Schiavo case would be “a great political issue” of great appeal to the party's base.

Because it was anonymous, and contained typos, rightwing bloggers immediately deemed it a set-up. Michelle Malkin called it “fishy.” John Hineraker of the WEEKLY STANDARD wrote: “A reasonable conclusion would be that the ‘talking points memo’ might be a fake, created by Democrats to cast aspersions on the motives of the Republican leadership.” The Key Monk is self-congratulatory: “ABC and the Washington Post 'broke' the story alleging that Republicans were using the Schiavo legislation for political gain. The blogosphere, once again, has investigated these memos and forced the MSM to backtrack on the story.” Free Republic claimed that “…this whole issue really stinks of fraud.” Captain’s Quarters said it looks “fishier” all the time.

Well, the legal counsel to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) has confessed that he is the author. Brian H. Darling, 39, offered his resignation and it was immediately accepted, Martinez said.

Does this alter your travel plans?A study out of Lima’s San Marcos University claims that 40 percent of the taxi and bus drivers in Peru exhibit psychopathic tendencies.